Badlands (1974) | agoodmovietowatch

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Badlands 7.6 1974 Movie

Badlands

Dir. Terrence Malick · United States of America · English, French

Terrence Malick’s portrait of apathy and violence in middle America is at once epic and poignant

Our take by Renee Cuisia

Two young lovers go on a violent spree and run away together with zero care for anything else outside of their own bubble. You’d think the scene would be romantic, or passionate at least, but director Terrence Malick plays it with extreme detachment. You wonder if the two are actually in love, or if there’s any motivation behind the killings. But before you go down that rabbit hole, the sweeping, epic landscapes of middle America steal your attention and never let go of it. This is a Malick film after all, and all the answers to your (and the characters’) questions lie in the silent grandness of the Earth. This is Malick’s first film, and it will explain all the others that come after it.

What happens

An impressionable teenage girl from a dead-end town and her older greaser boyfriend embark on a killing spree in the South Dakota badlands.

What the critics said

Notable Critics

"Written, produced and directed by Terrence Malick, pic is his first feature and it's an impressive debut."

— Variety Staff

More about it

What happens

Kit (Martin Sheen) befriends Holly (Sissy Spacek) and the two quickly go on a killing spree in their small South Dakota town. They agree to head to the Badlands in Montana to escape and start a new life.

What sets it apart

The detachment is both scary and understandable.

TL;DR

Less sensationalized than Bonnie and Clyde, but somehow more devastating.

Awards

Cannes

1 nom

Nominated: Official Selection

Venice

1 nom

Nominated: Official Selection

Berlin

1 nom

Nominated: Official Selection

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About the author

Renee Cuisia

Renee Cuisia

Renee Cuisia is the lead curator at A Good Movie to Watch. In her spare time, she likes to watch K-dramas and analyze them to death. She's also seen You've Got Mail one too many times but is still convinced it's one of the greatest films out there.